Guest Blog: Shire Oak
Wooden gazebos and pergolas have always been a garden favourite because of their durability, eco-friendliness and overall natural aesthetic to create a beautiful outdoor living space in your garden. After all, why shouldn’t you be able to use your garden all year round, even if we are in the UK! Gazebos and pergolas are the perfect space for hosting social events with a sheltered bar or BBQ, a hot tub area, or a lovely fire pit seating area.
The first step is choosing your wood, but which is best? A lot of it is personal preference! In terms of durability and lifespan, your general pressure-treated softwoods are going to last 10 to 30 years. Western Red Cedar wood, which we use on our gazebo roofs, will last nearer to 40 years as it has its own natural preservatives. It is so durable it is often used to roof houses in Canada. It also has a unique, spicy aroma which smells incredible and is often commented on when stood underneath the enclosure.
Of course, here at Shire Oak we are biased to our classic English Green Oak. Oak is a classic for a reason and will simply outlive most of us, without the need for maintenance. It’s famous for its durability and long lifespan, that naturally resists decay and moisture. Aesthetically, it is rich in colour and has a beautiful wood grain, as well as being versatile for both inside and outside use. Oak is a renewable resource with environmental and sustainability benefits, sourced from well-managed forests, making it a material we are very proud to work with.
With a DIY kit and good installation instructions, your gazebo or pergola can easily be assembled with just two people and, depending on the complexity of the roof, in up to two days. Here at Shire Oak, we have also developed our product of pre-formed roofing panels. These panels have Cedar shingles and Oak tile batten already fixed and ready to slot straight on the rafters, saving hours of time up on the roof.
Check out our blog for lots more helpful information on wooden gazebos and pergolas! Any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.
